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aussiesk8
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
32 Posts |
 Posted - 15/01/2013 : 22:57:05
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Hi there folks,
I was very lucky this Christmas! My parents found my future shopping list for a vivarium setup and went and got me a nice 3x2 an an ahs 500w heater etc.
I have setup everything as indicated in the instructions however don't like the illustration of the probe being suspended from the ceiling midway along the vivarium.
I have searched numerous forums and google to find out how other people are setting theirs up but for the life of me i cant find anything useful.
I saw from my searches on here that there are a few of you guys using these heaters, where have you found the best place for the probe to be?
I am currently heating mine up over the next few days whilst I wait for a last few bits and pieces to arrive and I have placed the probe about 6 inches from the heater emerging from the aspen (see below).
Lastly, I used to glue the stat probe to the bottom of the RUB to ensure that it remains in place. How are you guys securing the probe?
I am yet to receive plenty of plants, another replacement hide (the one originally received was broken) and a water bowl etc over the next couple of days hence the interiors looking fairly spartan.
Thanks in advance
Andy
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Foremand
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
968 Posts |
Posted - 15/01/2013 : 23:10:35
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| What are these heaters used for? Looks good so far though |
1.0.0 Royal python- Kaa
1.0.0 German shepherd- Riley
0.3.0 Cats- Does not matter they won't come to you
1.0.0 Red Footed Tortoise- Nemo
1.0.0 Boa- Bison
0.0.1 Brocky- Bearded dragon |
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aussiesk8
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
32 Posts |
Posted - 15/01/2013 : 23:16:30
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They are used as an alternative to a ceramic bulb to create a basking spot. I just thought I'd try something less ordinary as a heat source for my first proper vivarium.
The light mounted on the ceiling is a moonglow bulb (doubt it will ever be on though lol).
Thanks for your comment
Andy |
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Foremand
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
968 Posts |
Posted - 15/01/2013 : 23:40:19
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| Are these more costly? Would you recommend for larger snakes? |
1.0.0 Royal python- Kaa
1.0.0 German shepherd- Riley
0.3.0 Cats- Does not matter they won't come to you
1.0.0 Red Footed Tortoise- Nemo
1.0.0 Boa- Bison
0.0.1 Brocky- Bearded dragon |
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aussiesk8
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
32 Posts |
Posted - 16/01/2013 : 00:25:02
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I have seen them selling for around £85 - £90, I have seen people using them mainly in vivariums of 3ft+ which I guess generally house larger snakes but i don't think that would mean they are restricted to larger snakes, so long as the guard protects the snake from the heater.
I suppose they are more costly than a typical ceramic emitter, but they have a built in thermostat which I like as it reduces the amount of wires and equipment involved.
Andy |
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Baobab
Fully Grown Royal
United Kingdom
1393 Posts |
Posted - 16/01/2013 : 05:39:13
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Hi aussie. I like these heaters and have two vivs set up with them. Personally,I would say your probe is too close to the heater. To achieve a good thermal gradient the AHS probe should be half way along the back wall and about four ish inches up from the floor. They can be a pain to set up, but once its regulating at the set temperature they are great. You won't need that bulb heater (unless its just there for light).
If the probe is too close the heater will just cut in and out too quickly reducing the heaters effectiveness and possibly reducing its working life.
Do you have somebody waiting to move in or is he/she on their way? |
Royal 8.0 - Piebald (Dipstick), Calico (Flake), Pinstripe (Copper), Kingpin het Hypo (Gabriel), Soulsucker (Morgoth), Clown (Ziggy), Phantom (Spook), Enchi( Stenchi) .................Royal 0.12 - Pastel (Elanor), Spider (Willow), Normal het pied (Loki),, Pastel Sterling Orange Hypo (Misty), Normal (WC parents) (Cinders), Pewter (Tinuviel), Yellowbelly (Kaiko), Mojave (Milly), Champagne (Bubbles), Fire (Flame), Karma paradox (Smudge), Amoretti (Rita).Boa's 2.2.1- Eowyn (common), Snuggles (BCC), Bonnie (BCC), Bear (BCL) & Baileys (Kahl strain)..........Western Hognose 0.0.2 - Timmy & Henry.
Coastal*diamond carpet python 0.0.1- Pippin.........Brazilian Rainbow Boa 0.0.1 - Badger..........Granite Burmese 0.1 - Sally
Reticulated python 2.2 - Saru (purple albino), Cheesy (Sunfire albino white), Titan (Platinum Titanium) & Gala (Sunfiretiger het albino)......Rat snake 1.0 Remmy.
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richard v
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
563 Posts |
Posted - 16/01/2013 : 09:02:24
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| Hi There, I use these for my Burmese pythons and boa, I personally think you could do with moving the probe back a little, however I use the same heater to heat 7ft & 6ft vivs and have my probes pretty much in the same place, as your viv is only 3ft I think that will be fine, they heat the air temp of the viv superbly so you will find that you will get a great gradient using those. Also glad to see you have got a guard on it, although it has a thermal cut out on they in my opinion get far to hot for a reptile to come into contact with. Any other questions let me know. |
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aussiesk8
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
32 Posts |
Posted - 16/01/2013 : 10:43:59
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Good Morning guys and thanks for your comments I really appreciate a second opinion.
I have a 2011 male which I have had in RUBs for a year just passed who is going to be the habitant of this viv.
http://www.theroyalpython.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10001
I will have a wee shot at moving the probe along the wall as suggested, I had avoided this because of the setup instruction but I have noticed that at its current range the heater is just on and off constantly.
How do you secure the probe along the wall if you don't mind me asking Baobab? I do have some plastic cable clips which i could screw on.
The temperatures have been slowly picking up and I am getting between 31 and 32 pretty solidly on the hot end but the cool end is a bit high at 27ish (maybe as a result of the heater going on and off so much?).
The bulb is literally just a 50w moonglow bulb which I dont really intend on using however i thought it could double up with a ceramic if I was having issues (I live in the west of Scotland and my room can get pretty cold at night).
Thanks richard v I had read peoples posts in relation to them heating up so much and figured I'd better be safe than sorry and get a guard on there. I have noticed quite a bit of heat can build up even when incrementally increasing the temperature.
I will not be introducing Sigur until I ensure the temperatures are safe and stable.
Aus
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Baobab
Fully Grown Royal
United Kingdom
1393 Posts |
Posted - 16/01/2013 : 11:32:42
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Sigur is a lovely looking boy.
I secure all my cables with the plastic cable clips that are either held on with panel pins or screws.
Not sure what temperature range you'll get hot to cold as ours are in bigger vivs. Hopefully with a bit of tweeking it'll settle down. |
Royal 8.0 - Piebald (Dipstick), Calico (Flake), Pinstripe (Copper), Kingpin het Hypo (Gabriel), Soulsucker (Morgoth), Clown (Ziggy), Phantom (Spook), Enchi( Stenchi) .................Royal 0.12 - Pastel (Elanor), Spider (Willow), Normal het pied (Loki),, Pastel Sterling Orange Hypo (Misty), Normal (WC parents) (Cinders), Pewter (Tinuviel), Yellowbelly (Kaiko), Mojave (Milly), Champagne (Bubbles), Fire (Flame), Karma paradox (Smudge), Amoretti (Rita).Boa's 2.2.1- Eowyn (common), Snuggles (BCC), Bonnie (BCC), Bear (BCL) & Baileys (Kahl strain)..........Western Hognose 0.0.2 - Timmy & Henry.
Coastal*diamond carpet python 0.0.1- Pippin.........Brazilian Rainbow Boa 0.0.1 - Badger..........Granite Burmese 0.1 - Sally
Reticulated python 2.2 - Saru (purple albino), Cheesy (Sunfire albino white), Titan (Platinum Titanium) & Gala (Sunfiretiger het albino)......Rat snake 1.0 Remmy.
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aussiesk8
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
32 Posts |
Posted - 16/01/2013 : 13:29:20
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Yeah he is a looker, I was thinking of some similar idea with the clips. I will try rearranging the probe and see how the temperatures vary.
Thanks again, I'll be sure to upload some updates to my picture thread once I get the thing decorated.
Andy |
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richard v
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
563 Posts |
Posted - 16/01/2013 : 13:35:38
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| I doubt your cool side will get any cooler unless you move your probe and adjust the heat dial in the ahs down a little, I use cable ties to connect the cables together and leave them under the substrate just have the ends out I will take a couple of pics of my set up tonight and post them here for you. |
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aussiesk8
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
32 Posts |
Posted - 16/01/2013 : 13:59:39
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Yeah i hear you, I text my mum and she had a look at the temps, Im getting 31 at probe level and 33 up on top of the hide and 27 in the cool end. So hopefully i might get a bit of a drop if I reposition the probe and reduce the temps a little.
Was a little worried that the ahs heater might have been a little overkill for the vivarium size (3x2x2), hence me installing a bulb overhead just in the event I maybe did just have to use an overhead ceramic emitter. I have seen some people are using them though.
Andy |
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blackskull
Fully Grown Royal
United Kingdom
1278 Posts |
Posted - 17/01/2013 : 18:15:08
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| i have one of these for my 4x2x4 viv, i found i had to play with the probe a bit but mine is in a similar place to yours but a little further back |
1.1 normal royal, sully, silver
0.1 pinstripe royal, penny
1.1 pastel royal, lars, clover
0.1 lesser royal, serenity
0.1 black pastel royal, betty
0.1 mojave royal, mavis
0.1 normal het clown
1.0 pastel het clown
1.0 nuclear, ned
1.0 super phantom
1.0 childrens python, myles
0.1 hog island boa
0.1 sonoran x boa, grace
0.0.1 mack snow leopard gecko, munchkin
4.1 cats, stan, dave, marble, binx, daisy
4.1 rabbits, mol, ted, bill, spud, alice
0.1 crazy cat/bunny lady of bridgwater, lucy |
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aussiesk8
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
32 Posts |
Posted - 18/01/2013 : 09:02:42
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| I saw a few people with a similar setup which is why I opted for this initially but as Baobab suggested I placed it half way along the wall then worked it towards the heater a little until the temperatures began to balance out. |
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AHS Microclimate heaters
